Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Outrage as Council Threaten to remove personal items from Graves in Springfield Cemetery

Bray Town Council has sparked outrage among locals after the councilerected a number of signs in the Springfield Cemetery demanding thatthey remove any personal items or mementos placed on the graves before1st September.

Speaking after the signs were erected Wicklow Sinn Féin CouncillorJohn Brady said “The signs that were erected on Friday last havesparked outrage among locals, many of whom have been tending to thegrave plots for several years. The first many family members heardabout the council policy was when they attended the blessing of thegraves on Sunday afternoon in the cemetery and they seen the signsthat were erected around”.

The councillor continued “The council are saying that Springfield is alawn cemetery, however this has not been enforced and families havenot been informed of this when burying their loved ones. It’s totallywrong for the council to move in heavy handed like this after allowingfamilies maintain the graves, in many cases for the last 10-15 years.For many people a grave is all they have to remember their loved oneby and they have placed candles, flowers, ornaments etc. on the graveand maintain them to the highest of standards”.

Cllr Brady went on to say “I have checked the forms and paperwork thatfamily members have to fill out and sign when purchasing a plot orhaving a grave reopened and there is no mention whatsoever ofSpringfield being a lawn cemetery or that they are not permitted toplace flowers, candles or small ornaments on the graves. This isdeeply distressing for many families who were already suffering as aresult of the loss of their loved ones”.

Cllr Brady concluded “Threatening to remove items from the graves anddisposing of them has caused a lot of anger in Ballywaltrim and rightacross Bray. The council needs to withdraw the signs immediately andcome up with creative solutions that would include allowing familiesto maintain their loved ones graves”. Ends